Benteke will stand strong over the criticism of his lack of goals [STUART ROBINSON]

Headlines in Belgium say Benteke has turned into a “pussy” during his 10-game goalless spell. But Lambert has come out fighting on his striker’s behalf.

“If you are saying Benteke is a pussy, you want to try to say that to his face,” said Lambert. “He’s having a hard time but he’ll ram that down their throat.”

Benteke was signed by Lambert from Genk for £7million last summer as an unknown but hit 23 goals in his first season, 19 of them in the Premier League, and his value has tripled.

After an equally good start this season with five goals in five games, Benteke has hit a dry spell – and Lambert puts that down to injuries.

Benteke missed three games with a hip problem and then damaged his knee while with the Belgium national team.

Although he is now back playing regularly, Benteke, 6ft 3in tall and powerfully built, looks like a tamed beast.

But Lambert said Benteke is not 100 per cent fit and is still suffering from the injuries, so much so that he could be left out tomorrow at Stoke.

“He’s having a hard time but he’s still carrying a few knocks, little minor things that are hindering him,” said Lambert.

“The hip injury was his first in football. You can get a bit of lack of confidence when things aren’t going your way. He set himself such a high standard last season that the little knocks he is carrying aren’t helping him. It’s my job to rectify that.

“To say Benteke has not been trying for us is wrong. He’s an imposing figure and he started the season brilliantly, he was on fire.

“Then he got his hip injury against Norwich, then went away with Belgium and got an injured knee, and these knocks were quite close to each other.

“But his physique will never change and his size will never change. If anything Benteke is going to get stronger in his career as he keeps on developing.

Paul Lambert signed Benteke for £7million last summer [REUTERS]

He’s having a hard time but he’s still carrying a few knocks, little minor things that are hindering him

Paul Lambert, Aston Villa manager

“He’ll know how to handle his body and physical contact better than he’s doing now.” Benteke’s last goal was against Newcastle, the game before his hip injury in September, and he has not looked as aggressive or as formidable since his comeback.

“If you’re confident you’ll do things off the cuff. Maybe he’s thinking too much. He’s trying to impress and trying to get it back,” said Lambert.

“But the injury situation is hurting a bit. I need to see how he is with all these knocks, it’s getting him down. I might need to look at taking Benteke out of the firing line, I need to get him 100 per cent.

“He always wants to play, he’s not in so much pain that he says, ‘I can’t do this’. It’s little things that are hindering his movement. You have to watch it with any player. It was the same with Gabby Agbonlahor, he was playing with an ankle knock.

“We had to look after him. The league’s too powerful to go in there not 100 per cent.

“Benteke might not realise it, but he’ll come back from this. If he’s read or heard what’s being said – which I’m sure he will as it’s in his native country – then he’ll ram that down their throat.” Lambert also rejected the notion that his players are overly physical, stressing they are “not a team of kickers” and claiming any suggestion to the contrary is unfair.

After Manchester United’s 3-0 win at Villa Park on Sunday, opposing boss David Moyes said the opposition had been “queueing up to kick” his winger Adnan Januzaj.

Lambert dismissed that assertion at the time, and yesterday he added: “You look at our team and they are not big, aggressive lads.

“There are one or two who can look after themselves, but if you are talking about the midfield zone, there are not many there.

“You can’t just let anyone turn up and try to play, but we are not a team of kickers at all. That was unfair.”

Fabian Delph is set to return having completed his ban, while fellow midfielder Chris Herd should be back after a facial injury. Captain and defender Ron Vlaar, who has been nursing a calf problem, is still a major doubt.